A talk between friends
A week had flown by and she pretty much had hung out with Summer that she barely even saw Ryan or Seth.
So that Friday at school Marissa grabbed her books from her locker and closed it. "Hello Marissa my new best friend. May I just say again thank you" He said. She laughed.
"Seth you don't have to keep thanking me alright." She said. "Alright" He said. "So did you have fun?" Marissa said.
"Marissa it's something I've been dreaming about of course it was fun" Seth said. "Hey don't get snippy Cohen I can take her away just like that" She said obviously joking.
"You wouldn't Right?" He said. "I'm kidding Seth it was joke" She said.
"You're funny" He said. "That's what I live for?" She said. "So you and Ryan. Did you guys have fun?" He said. She looked at him.
"Well did you ask Ryan if he had fun?" She said. "Do you know who we're talking about here? This is Ryan Atwood he doesn't speak of fun" He said.
"Seth" She said. "What? It's the truth" He said. She smiled. "So did you have fun with Ryan?" Seth said.
"Why does this seem like I'm going to tell you my answer and your going to report back to Ryan? He didn't send you here did he?" She said.
"No of course not. I just thought I'd help a brother out" He said not sounding convincing. "I knew it he did send you over here" She said walking away from him.
"Wait Marissa he so did not ask me to come over here." He said. "Bye Seth" She said leaving him alone. "Damn Ryan's gonna kill me?" Seth said to himself.
She was on her way home when she saw Ryan passing the quad. She hurried to catch up. "Hey" She said coming up behind him.
"Marissa Hey" He said. "So the other night I had fun" She said. "Yeah me too" He said. "Just thought you'd rather here it from me than say Seth" She said looking at him.
He laughed. "Next time you want to ask me something just ask me okay? We don't need to play this back and forth game" She said.
"Okay" He said. "Alright" She said. "So do you want to do something later?" He said. "Well I have to work until six so I can meet you at 6:30. Is that okay?" She said.
"Yeah 6:30 is fine" He said. "Okay well then I'll see you later I gotta get to work" She said. "Yeah see you later" He said. She walked off.
That night Pacey was working at the restaurant. He was in his office working on the books when Frank an employee of his peeked in.
"Hey Pacey" He said. "Yeah." He said. "There's a lady out here looking for you" he said. He thought about it. "Did she give a name?" He said.
"Yeah it's something Potter. Sound familiar?" Pacey got up and met him at the door. "It's Joey Potter and yes I do know her. She's a friend from High School" Pacey said.
"Well she's waiting at the bar for you" He said. "Thanks Frank" Pacey said. "No problem boss" He said.
Pacey came out to the front and spotted her on a stool. He stopped and stared at her for a minute. It seemed time didn't change a thing in his eyes. She was still the most beautiful girl in the room except now she was a women.
She turned and noticed him and waved him over with a smile. He smiled and walked over. "Hey Jo" He said. "So I just thought I'd come see the place for myself. I hope that's okay" Joey said. "Of course it's okay" He said with a smile.
"Good" She said. "Actually do you want to sit in the back there's an empty both? Have you eaten? We could have dinner if you want?" He said. "That sounds great" She said getting up and following him.
She sat down and Pacey put in their orders and came back to her. "So" He said. "So" She said. They were both at a loss for words.
"This is ridiculous I used to talk to you everyday and now I can't even think of what to say to you" He said. "It's okay because as great as it is to see you I'm nervous too" She said with a smile.
He smiled back. She decided to break the tension. "So aren't you going to ask me why I left?" She said staring straight into his eyes. He looked up at her.
"Well to be honest I've thought about it and I guess I came to the conclusion that it was just something you needed to do for yourself. There's nothing wrong with that." He said.
"No, but even still I didn't need to leave you all behind like that" She said. "Yeah but Joey you see you didn't leave us behind. You know Dawson went to film school and right after you had gone I didn't see any reason for me to come back so I got another job and I never came back except to visit which was rare" He said.
"I heard from Bessie" She said. "It's not like you didn't care about us. You just needed this for yourself sometimes it's good to distance yourself from people. Ultimately it's how you find who you really are" He said.
She looked at him. "Then why do I still feel as lost as ever?" She said trying to figure it out.
"Come on Joey you are not lost. You're here in New Port you work at a private School as a counselor. That doesn't seem like a lost person to me" He said.
"I guess in a way I never really felt whole ever since I left Capeside" She said. "Well the only way to feel whole again is by picking up the phone and talking to them" He said.
"I've thought about it but every time that I have I talk myself out of it. I convince myself that I won't belong in their world anymore" She said.
"Well for the record you'll always be apart of my world. Whether we talk for the next twenty years or we don't see each other again for another twenty. It's not that easy to let go of old friends" He said.
"I haven't let any of you go. I find out here and there what everybody's doing, how they are that sort of thing but you remained somewhat of a mystery" She said.
He laughed. "That would be because I don't really talk to anyone besides Doug and those few times I've spoken to Julie about me taking Marissa to live here but other then that I haven't spoken to any one" He said.
"Not even Gretchen?" She said. "No, not really She's doing okay. She's married has a son so she's doing all right though" He said. "Did you talk to Marissa?" Joey said.
"No she actually went to some big swanky party the other day with Summer a new friend from school and I just didn't think it was the time." He said shrugging his shoulders.
"Well as long as she's happy and she's making friends than there's nothing to worry about. You know I noticed she's been hanging out with Ryan Atwood" She said.
"Ryan the kid who's living with the Cohen's right yeah they're becoming close." He laughed. "It's funny really because it sort of reminds me of She interrupted. "Us" She said. "Exactly" He said.
"Well she's in for one hell of a ride" She said. He laughed. Marissa walked out of the back and noticed her Uncle with Ms. Potter she was suddenly worried that she came to talk to him about her.
She tried turning around fast but was not quick enough. "Marissa" He said. "Damn" She mouthed under her breath. She walked over to them.
She smiled. "Hi Ms. Potter" She said nervously. Joey could tell she was uncomfortable. "Hi Marissa. I just ran into your Uncle here. We actually know each other from High School" She said.
Pacey look puzzled at what she said about just running into him now but then he shook it off thinking she probably didn't want Marissa to know they had talked concerning her.
"Wait you grew up in Capeside?" Marissa said suddenly very interested. "Yeah we've known each other since we were little kids" He said. "Wait your Joey?" Marissa said.
Joey laughed. "Yea that would be me" Joey said. "Wow so you like went out with my Uncle when you were my age" Marissa said. He smiled. "Yeah we did" She said. "Small world" Marissa said.
"Yeah" She said. "So you know Dawson too then" She said. "You met Dawson?" Joey Said.
"Sure I used to spend x-mas with Gram and Pop" She said. He looked at her. "My parent's" He said filling her in. "Right. How are they?" She said.
Marissa looked at Pacey "There good Pop's still a pain in the ass but you know there okay" He said "So any way it's six thirty and your off for the night so get out of here" He said talking to Marissa.
She laughed. "Okay but I'm gonna go out for awhile" She said. "Ryan again?" He said. She pulled her apron off.
"Yes but Seth will be there too. We're just hanging out." She said. "Okay home by twelve" He said.
"Okay. See you later. Ms. Potter I guess I'll see you in school" She said. "Take care Marissa" She said.
Marissa walked away from them. "It's nice to see her smile again" He said thinking about Marissa.
"Maybe Ryan's just what she needs to get through this" Joey said. "I hope so" He said.